Boys Soccer: El Rancho 3, Channel Islands 2 El Rancho Holds Off Gritty Channel Islands ...

DOWNEY They know the drill all too well.

Accept the runner-up plaque, grab a medal and watch the other team celebrate with T-shirts and smiles.

For the second straight season and third time in five years, the Channel Islands High boys soccer team lost in the CIF-Southern Section championship game.

Top-seeded El Rancho held off a late charge by Channel Islands to defeat the Raiders 3-2 in the Division 3 final on Saturday afternoon at Warren High.

The Raiders (15-7-5) nearly pulled of an unlikely run from a wild-card entrant to a CIF-SS champion, but were left with the same familiar empty feeling.

All three of their title-game losses have been by a one-goal margin.

Its so close that you can almost feel it and then you dont have it at the end, Channel Islands head coach Rogelio Juarez said. They are still hungry, but we are going to have to wait until next year.

El Rancho (26-2-1) was just as experienced as Channel Islands in title games. The Dons were making their third straight appearance, winning the title in 2011 and losing in last years Division 4 final.

Senior midfielder Luis Juarez scored both goals for Channel Islands in the second half as the Raiders frantically played catch-up after trailing 2-0.

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Boys Soccer: Channel Islands comes up short in championship match again